Jürgen Klopp's verdict

The manager offered his reflections on Liverpool's 4-0 win over Southampton and the Reds' 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in his post-match press conference at Anfield.

"The attitude and the mentality of these boys made it again possible that we could win this game," said the boss. "Because this was a game which looked in moments not only tricky, it looked like – banana skin is maybe not the right word because Southampton are too good for being a banana skin – but it looked like today, yes it will probably happen [Liverpool would drop points].

"The boys put a sensational shift in, everybody went to the point and above, so that makes this group really special. That’s all that happened. We didn’t want to have a 22-point difference to other teams today, we wanted to have 73 points after that matchday. And that’s what we have, so all good for the moment."

You can read what he had to say in full by clicking here.

Jordan Henderson's reaction

"We're getting closer to our target but I don't see why we need to change – I keep saying it every week but it's the truth," the captain said after the game as he assessed Liverpool's 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. "We take the next game as it comes, that's the next challenge and the biggest challenge. We're focussing on that 90 minutes and giving everything we can, respect the opposition like we always do and just focus on each game as it comes. 

"That's put us in good stead until now, so there's no need to change. We just need to continue on our journey, keep focussed, keep learning at the training ground and then when we play on a weekend, give everything we can."

Read our chat with the skipper in full by clicking here.

And here's how the top of the table looks...

All the facts and figures from this afternoon, courtesy of Opta...

Chance

It should be 4-0.

Liverpool break through Salah, who tees up Minamino12 yards out, but he scoops well over

Boufal curls wide of Alisson's upright.

Chance

It's almost 4-0 as Keita slides in Firmino, who side-steps McCarthy; however, the goalkeeper makes a fine recovery save to thwart the Reds striker.

Djenepo causes havoc in the area, a game of pinball ensues before Liverpool scramble it away.

Hojbjerg earlier had a shot deflected behind by Gomez.

Ings has a shot deflected behind as Southampton push for a leveller.

Salah has the ball in the net from Firmino's pass.

It's ruled out for offside following a VAR check.

Here's how Opta recorded the first haf...

One minute to be added on at the end of the first half.

Chance

Gomez hesitates, allowing Ings to steal in, but Alisson rushes from his line to make a save at the feet of the former Reds forward.

Another opening for Southampton, again coming from Liverpool giving the ball away.

This time Hojbjerg takes the ball from Oxlade-Chamberlain and shoots low towards the bottom corner.

Alisson gathers.

Chance

Another good opening for Southampton.

This time Long's snap-shot stings the palms of Alisson.

Chance

Firmino inadvertantly plays in Ings, who steps inside Gomez and shoots, but it cannons against Long.

Alexander-Arnold steps up to strike a free-kick goalwards.

It hits the wall and goes behind.

Redmond's shot deflects off Gomez and goes behind.

VAR checks a potential infringement on Firmino by Long as the No.9 goes for a cross in the six-yard box.

Penalty not given.

Chance!

The game's first big chance as Salah drills a half-cleared corner back into the path of Van Dijk, who controls it and attempts to beat McCarthy with a back-heel, similar to the manner in which Mane scored against Watford last season. The 'keeper manages to block, however - and he repels Firmino's follow-up, too.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has a shot deflected by Djenepo. The ball loops high into the air and then towards the top corner, where McCarthy pushes it over.

Djenepo takes aim from the edge of the area with a crisp effort that Alisson needs to punch around the post.

Wijnaldum can't get any purchase on an attempt after being slid into a shooting position by Fabinho.

From one end to the other.

Van Dijk has to stretch to cut out an Ings cutback.

Liverpool break and Henderson has a shot charged down on the edge of the box.

Chance

Liverpool open up their guests for the first time.

Oxlade-Chamberlain chests a pass off to Salah on the edge of the box, who sees his strike deflected behind by Bednarek's challenge.

Alexander-Arnold skims a cross onto the roof of the net, with McCarthy concerned but untroubled.

Southampton incensed after Alisson picks up a nudge back towards him from Robertson as he tackles Djenepo inside the box. The referee waves play on.

The game begins to come to life after a tepid start.

Salah fizzes a cross into the area that just evades Firmino and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The teams? They're out on the pitch.

Now playing? You'll Never Walk Alone.

The action? It's almost here.

Getting set...

AXA - principal partner and official training kit sponsor

The formations

Here's how Opta predict the sides will shape up...

Inside the dressing room

Here they come...

TEAM NEWS

The teamsheet is in and it shows just one change for Liverpool as Fabinho comes in for Divock Origi.

Adam Lallana is back on the bench after recovering from a virus.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Adrian, Lovren, Keita, Minamino, Lallana, Origi, Matip.

On this day

Liverpool last played on February 1 in 2009, when two goals in two minutes from Fernando Torres defeated Chelsea late on at Anfield.

Three years earlier, Daniel Agger made the first of his 232 appearances for the Reds in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.

The lowdown on Saints

"It sounds cliché, but their team spirit is their biggest driving force at the moment," sports journalist Dan Sheldon tells us in our view from the opposition feature.

"Recent results against Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester and Crystal Palace have given Hasenhuttl's side an edge and they don't stop trying until the final whistle."

Dan expects the visitors to line up like so...

'It gives us a foundation'

Joe Gomez has been discussing the Reds' sturdiness at the back and his own outstanding form in an interview in the official matchday programme.

"Obviously as a backline and Ali, we thrive off clean sheets but it is a collective thing," the No.12 insists. "It starts from the front and works its way back. 

"We take pride in it but we know that it's as a team that we defend and the whole team does that because it gives us a foundation to get goals and if you get the goals and keep clean sheets, you win games."

On his recent performances, Gomez continued: "I've enjoyed playing the games but it's just about keeping focused. 

"We've still got a long way to go in the season. There are still a lot of games left, so it's just about focusing on each one at a time and not dwelling on anything and hopefully we can keep putting performances in."

Tunnel vision...

Ready to go

Stat attack

• Victory today would see Liverpool equal the Premier League record for consecutive home wins (20)
• The Reds have won each of the past five encounters with Southampton by an aggregate score of 13-2
• Mohamed Salah has been on the winning side in each of the last 30 league games in which he has played

• Liverpool's current points tally (70) is more than they have accumulated in 17 of the 27 complete Premier League seasons

Play LFC Lotto today

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Ings set for warm welcome

Danny Ings will return to Anfield as a player for the first time since leaving the club - and both the manager and captain have spoken glowingly of the striker in their programme notes.

Klopp: "Of course, there is one player in their ranks we know better than most: Mr Danny Ings. For 90-plus minutes today he is our opponent, but other than that he is always our friend at Liverpool. I am not even half-a-per-cent surprised to see what he does this season. Richly deserved, also. Today I hope he has an off day, but other than that his story this season really brings joy to those of us lucky enough to know him."

Henderson: "He was only ever a nice guy off the pitch. On the pitch he was 'horrible' in the best sense of the word from a footballing perspective: wouldn't give you a second to breathe on the ball, always snapping away to try to win the ball back, constantly offering and always a threat. I hope after the match today I'm telling him 'hard luck'. But we'll also be telling him that we're all made up to see him doing what he does best. The fact he's getting the recognition he deserves as one of the best centre-forwards, in one of Europe's best leagues, is reward for all the hard work he's put in for a very, very long time."

Missing Men

You'll have to cast your mind back more than two decades to crack our latest Missing Men quiz.

Can you remember the full Reds XI from the 7-1 win over Saints at Anfield in January 1999?

Click the graphic to reveal the answers. No cheating!

Team news

Liverpool are expected to have Adam Lallana and Divock Origi available after a virus and cramp respectively.

James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri are ruled out, however, and Sadio Mane is unlikely to face his former club.

Stuart Armstrong is sidelined for Saints, Cedric Soares has joined Arsenal on loan, and Kyle Walker-Peters is not able to play yet after switching from Tottenham.

The visitors are otherwise full strength, though.

Did you know?

The last three league goals scored by Saints at Anfield have all come from current Liverpool players - Dejan Lovren in 2013, Nathaniel Clyne a year later and Sadio Mane in 2015.

Who's in charge?

Here are today's officials at Anfield.

Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Simon Beck, Adrian Holmes
Fourth official: David Webb
VAR: Simon Hooper
Assistant VAR: Daniel Robathan

The last meeting

The teams last met early in the Premier League season and Liverpool took all three points courtesy of goals from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at St Mary's...

Today's programme cover

The front of the official match programme pays tribute to Bob Paisley in the week a statue, commissioned and donated by Standard Chartered, was unveiled in his honour at Anfield.

The image, of Paisley carrying Emlyn Hughes from the field during his days as a physio, has been recreated in bronze outside the stadium to celebrate the iconic manager's legacy.

The manager's preview

Jürgen Klopp held his pre-match press conference on Friday, where he discussed the clash with Southampton, the Reds' approach to transfers, the latest team news and more...

Tale of the tape

Examine all of the numbers behind both sides' Premier League seasons so far...

Last time out

Goals from Mohamed Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Liverpool a deserved 2-0 win at West Ham United in midweek. Enjoy the story of that game below...

As it stands

A reminder of the situation at the summit.

Liverpool are 19 points clear of Manchester City before this weekend's action begins. City travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

Leicester City, who host fourth-placed Chelsea in today's lunchtime kick-off, are a further three points behind the Reds.

Back to Anfield

Hello and welcome to our live matchday blog as Liverpool return home to face Southampton in the Premier League this afternoon.

Victory over Saints would open up a 22-point lead at the summit for the Reds.

Follow all of the build-up, action and reaction from Anfield right here, with team news, updates, videos, photos and much more.